Hobby horse



Nov. 3, 1964 MOORE ETAL 3,155,390

HOBBY HORSE Filed Nov. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS s2 32 CLEMENT R. MOORE CYRUS W. HUFF ATTORNEYS 3, 1964 c. R. MOORE ETAL 3,155,390

HOBBY HORSE Filed Nov. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l2 FIG.4 I3

lNVENTORS CLEMENT R.MOORE CYRUS W. HUFF ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,155,353 Patented Nov. 3, 1964 3,155,390 HQBBY HORSE Clement R. Moore, St. Louis Park, and Cyrus W. Huff, Mound, n., assignors to Moulded Products, Inc., Maple Plain, Minm, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Nov. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 150,566

3 Claims. (Cl. 272-533) The herein disclosed invention relates to animated toys and particularly to a hobby horse and has for an object to provide a toy comprising a body and front and rear legs pivoted thereto and means for simultaneously moving the legs.

An object of the invention resides in providing the legs with arms extending outwardly therefrom and means including a link connecting said arms whereby the legs move in unison.

Another object of the invention resides in providing means for moving the legs in opposite directions.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the body with an anterior, posterior cavity therein and forming spaced sides and in providing a frame within said body comprising two side frame members extending along the sides of said body and secured thereto and in further providing rods extending through said sides and frame members and serving to support said legs for pivotal movement.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a shaft extending across the two hind legs and in providing another shaft extending across the front legs and in connecting the link to said shafts to procure simultaneous movement of the legs upon movement of one of the legs.

An object of the invention resides in providing a cross bar connected to the two front legs and projected laterally beyond the same and serving as'foot rests or stirrups on which the rider may place his feet, said cross bar being positioned so that pressure exerted upon the same causes downward movement of the front legs and upward movement of the rear legs.

Another object of the invention resides in providing resilient means for urging the legs into normal position and stops resisting movement of the legs when the same reach normal position.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings: 7

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a hobby horse illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the hobby horse taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1. g

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1. r

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view take on line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and drawn to a greaterscale.

The invention consists of a frame A on which is mounted a simulated horse B or other similar construction for supporting the rider. The horse B has a body provided with a head 11 and a tail 12 at the rear-most end thereof. On the body 10 is formed a saddle 13'on which the rider may be seated. The body 10 is hollow as shown in FIG. 2 and has a cavity 14 extending throughout the length thereof in an anterior, posterior direction and is formed with two openings 37 at the bottom. The body 10 is formed with sides 15 and 16 and a bottom 18 forming the belly of the horse. The body ltl may be made in several pieces cemented together to form the ultimate structure.

Within the cavity 14 of body 10 is mounted a frame 20' comprising two longitudinal frame members 21 and 22 which are secured to the sides 15 and 16 of the body 10 in any suitable manner as by means of screws 17. Transverse frame members 18 and 19 connect the longitudinal frame members 21 and 22 together. Extending through the sides 15 and 16 and the frame members 21 and 22 and secured thereto are two rods 23 and 24 and by means of which the horse B is supported on the frame A.

The frame A is generally rectangular in form and consists of four uprights 30 which are constructed from cylindrical tubular metal stock. The stock from which said uprights are constructed is formed with bends 25 which provide feet 26 extending outwardly from the uprights. The feet 26 have rubber tips 27 secured to the end thereof and which rest upon the floor or other surface upon which the toy is to be used. Extending across the uprights 30 are transverse frame members 28 and longitudinal frame members 29. These frame members are all bolted together with bolts 31 as disclosed in Patent No. 2,937,691, issued to William H. Horgan, May 24, 1960, for Riding Toy.

The simulated horse B is attached to the frame A through a number of springs 32 which are secured at one end of each thereof to the upper ends of the uprights 30 'by means of loops 33 which extend through suitable openings 34 in said uprights. Rubber tips 35 applied'to the upper ends of said uprights protect the user from injury and at the same time enhance the appearance of the toy. These springs are secured at their other ends to screw eyes 36 which are screwed into the ends of the rods 23 and 24.

The horse B is further provided with front legs 41 and 42 and rear legs 43 and 44. The front legs 41 and 42 are connected together by means of a connector 61 and are provided with holes serving as bearings and through which the rod 24 extends. This rod serves as an axle supporting said legs for swing movement. In a similar manner the legs 43 and 44 are supported for swinging movementupon the rod 23. The front legs 41 and 42 are further tied together by means of another connector 45 in the form of a rod disposed forwardly of the body 10 and rigidly secured thereto. This rod extends outwardly in a lateral direction relative to said legs to form foot rests 46 and 47 and which take the place of stirrups. The rear legs 43 and 144 are also tied together by means of a connector 62. The legs 41, 42, 43, and 44 are disposed between the frame members 21 and 22 and their upper ends are disposed within the cavity 14.

Extending upwardly from the upper ends of the legs 41, 42, 43, and 44 are arms 51, 52, 53, and 54. These arms are preferably made integral with said legs and are disposed within the cavity 14. Extending across the arms 51 and 52 is a shaft 55. A similar shaft 56 extends across the arms 53 and 54. These shafts rotate relative to said arms. A link 57 is connected at one end to the shaft 55 and its other end to the shaft 56 by means of fingers 77 which are bent outwardly from said link at its ends and which extend through the shafts 55 and 56. By means of this construction the front legs move in unison in one direction and the rear legs move in unison in the opposite direction, all legs moving at the same time.

The legs 41 and 42 are urged in an upward direction by means of the following construction best shown in FIG. 5. Extending loosely through a hole 68 in the transverse frame member 18 is a rod 67. This rod is formed with an eye 66. and through which the shaft 55 extends. Mounted on the rod 67 between frame member 18' and shaft 55 is an adjustable collar 69 held in position by means of a set screw 71. This collar engages the frame f member 18' on one side thereof. Also mounted on the and is disposed between and engages the washers 72 and 73. Washer 72 engages the frame member 18' on the other side thereof and washer 73 engages a thumb nut 75 screwed on the threaded end 76 of the rod 67. The collar 6 serves as a stop for limiting upward movement of the legs 41 and 42. Spring 74 urges the collar 69 into engagement with frame member 18' and provides suitable resistance to the movement of the legs 41 and 42 in a downward direction. A V

In use the child seated on saddle 13 and with his legs straddling the body 10 of the horse While so positioned the child holds hand grips 73 attached to the head 11 and places his feet on the rests 46 and 47. As he throws his weight about the springs 32 yield and give the horse a galloping motion. When d ownward pressure is applied to the rests 46 and 47 the frontlegs 41 and 42 move downwardly and simultaneouslythe rear legs 43 and 44 move upwardly. In this manner a horse in the action of galloping is simulated giving extreme pleasure to the rider. U a

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The movement of the legs of the horse greatly enhances the appearance of the horse and gives the rider an opportunity to cause the horse A to more closely simulate the movements of a real horse. The galloping action produced is controlled entirely by the feet of the rider so that the hands are freeto manipulate and hold on to the hand grips 73. The parts utilized in the invention can be constructed at a nominal expense and will not readily be broken or rendered out of order.

I Changes in the specificform of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. a a I Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A hobby horse comprising a hollow body constructed with an anterior, posterior cavity therein and forming spaced sides, a frame withinsaid body comprising two side frame members extending along the sides of said body and secured thereto, rods extending through and attached to said side frame members and projecting outwardly beyond the sides of the body, a base having uprights, springs between said rods at their outer ends and said uprights, pairs of rear and front legs pivoted on said rods and normally disposed in extended positions, lever arms extending upwardly from said legs and disposed within the cavity in saidbody, connecting means connecting the arms of said rear legs together, connecting means connecting the arms of said front legs together and a link connected to both said connecting means and having relative pivotal movement with respect to said lever arms, actuating means on said front legs and serving upon downward movement to cause downward movement of the front legs and upward movement of said rear legs and resilient means acting between a part fixed relative to said body and one of said connecting means to return said legs to normal position.

2. A hobby horse comprising a hollow body constructed with an anterior, posterior cavity therein and forming spaced sides, a frame within said body comprising two side frame members extending along the sides of said body and secured thereto, rods extending through and attached to said side frame members and projecting outwardly beyond the sides of the body, a base having uprights, springs between said rods at their outer ends and said uprights, rear and front legs pivoted on said rods and normally disposed in extended positions, lever arms extending upwardly from said legs and disposed within the cavity in said body, a shaft extending across the arms extending from said rear legs and pivoted relative thereto, a shaft extending across said front legs and pivoted thereto, a link connected to both of said shafts, actuating means on said front legs and serving upon downward movement to cause downward movement of the front legs and upward movement of said rear legs and resilient means acting between a part fixed relative to said body and one of said shafts to return said legs to normal positions.

3. A hobby horse comprising a hollow body constructed with an anterior, posterior cavity therein and forming spaced sides, two rods extending through said sides and projecting outwardly beyond the body, a base having uprights, springs between said rods at their outer ends and said uprights, a rear leg pivoted through one of said rods and a front leg pivoted through the other of said rods, said legs being normally disposed in extended positions, a lever arm extending upwardly from the front leg, a lever arm extending upwardly from the rear leg,

linkage between said arms and pivoted relative thereto and actuating means connected to said front leg and serving upon downward movement to cause downward movement of the front leg and upward movement of the rear leg and resilient means acting between a part fixed relative to said body and one of said legs to return said legs to normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 411,643 Crandall Sept. 24, 1889 2,554,045 Minor May 22, 1951 2,727,741 Fletcher Dec. 20, 1955 

1. A HOBBY HORSE COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY CONSTRUCTED WITH AN ANTERIOR, POSTERIOR CAVITY THEREIN AND FORMING SPACED SIDES, A FRAME WITHIN SAID BODY COMPRISING TWO SIDE FRAME MEMBERS EXTENDING ALONG THE SIDES OF SAID BODY AND SECURED THERETO, RODS EXTENDING THROUGH AND ATTACHED TO SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE SIDES OF THE BODY, A BASE HAVING UPRIGHTS, SPRINGS BETWEEN SAID RODS AT THEIR OUTER ENDS AND SAID UPRIGHTS, PAIRS OF REAR AND FRONT LEGS PIVOTED ON SAID RODS AND NORMALLY DISPOSED IN EXTENDED POSITIONS, LEVER ARMS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID LEGS AND DISPOSED WITHIN THE CAVITY IN SAID BODY, CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTING THE ARMS OF SAID REAR LEGS TOGETHER, CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTING THE ARMS OF SAID FRONT LEGS TOGETHER AND A LINK CONNECTED TO BOTH SAID CONNECTING MEANS AND HAVING RELATIVE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID LEVER ARMS, ACTUATING MEANS ON SAID FRONT LEGS AND SERVING UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT TO CAUSE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FRONT LEGS AND UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID REAR LEGS AND RESILIENT MEANS ACTING BETWEEN A PART FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID BODY AND ONE OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS TO RETURN SAID LEGS TO NORMAL POSITION. 